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Are you kidding me? We are over .500 at the all-star break for the first time in ages. Our bullpen has the best era in the AL and the second best in all of MLB. Our rotation has used 8 different pitchers already at this point, two of which (that have significant numbers of starts) are sub 4.00. Hunter never should have been in this rotation.

Zach wrote:Are you kidding me? We are over .500 at the all-star break for the first time in ages. Our bullpen has the best era in the AL and the second best in all of MLB. Our rotation has used 8 different pitchers already at this point, two of which (that have significant numbers of starts) are sub 4.00. Hunter never should have been in this rotation.

It seems like all the young guys love Griffin down in AAA. If Adair is let go I would be happy to see Griffin in Baltimore. I would love Peterson to be the pitching coach but I get the sense he isn't interested.

I think what you are seeing here in the recent decline in our pitching is multi dimensional. First our offense has taken a step back over the last month which magnifies the pitching woes. Secondly the pitchers have to be willing to accept the coaching. Lastly I feel strongly that we have over valued our own guys all along. My observation is simple, at critical times in the game when you need to get out a batter with RISP, we can't get that out. The other teams have been able to work the count, get a fastball and drive it for a hit. Matusz especially is 2 or 3 bad pitches away from a different out come.I have said all along that to be competitive in the east we will have to go out and get starting pitching. We all know that is an expensive venture. With the exception of Bundy, there is no one in our system that we can look forward to as being a consistant major league starter. Sure guys like Gonzalez and Britton and Matusz are going to show you flashes, but I don't know that any of them can survive long term. I guess we will see.......I don't think it's a matter of coaching as much as it is a matter of our 5 starters are just not as good as most other teams 5 starters. You have to have the horses and we don't.

You are being a bit bearish in your approach to the overall assessment.

When your lineup takes a dump, pitches tend to press. When a pitcher presses for perfection, the wheels fall off.

Each pitcher does not respond to the same approach. What worked well with Hammel or Chen, does not mean that it works for Matusz or Arrieta. Conversely, Petersen may not have gotten through to anyone on the starting staff to begin the season. It is why I said it was imperative to add additional roving pitching instructors and double the efforts. It increases the "he gets it" odds.

How can so many other pitchers go from one ear to another and turn lights out. AJ Burnett ring a bell, how about the own group of Hammel.

I feel you are writing off way too prematurely. Some guys may never do well in Baltimore, some are built for other places, but all are quality arms. It depends about the person being able to get through to them and bring out the potential.

I base my desire to see this guy canned on the slow and steady decline of our young arms like Arrieta, Matusz and Hunter. Even Strop has been struggling. If this isn't as giant Red Flag for DD then he must be blind

birdwatcher55 wrote:I base my desire to see this guy canned on the slow and steady decline of our young arms like Arrieta, Matusz and Hunter. Even Strop has been struggling. If this isn't as giant Red Flag for DD then he must be blind

Zach wrote:Are you kidding me? We are over .500 at the all-star break for the first time in ages. Our bullpen has the best era in the AL and the second best in all of MLB. Our rotation has used 8 different pitchers already at this point, two of which (that have significant numbers of starts) are sub 4.00. Hunter never should have been in this rotation.

Who would you have put in the Opening Day rotation instead of Hunter?

My point wasn't that we had someone to replace Hunter with. My point was that Adair is doing a pretty good job with what he has been given.